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Category: Licensed Consultant

  • Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of November 2024

    Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of November 2024

    For Immediate Release 

    Contact: Amy Coates Madsen 
    Director, Standards for Excellence Institute® 
    acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org 
    443-438-2314  

    Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of November 2024 

    Baltimore, MD – December 11, 2024 – The Standards for Excellence Institute, an initiative dedicated to promoting the highest standards of nonprofit ethics and accountability, announces its 2024 Class of Licensed Consultants.

    Thirty highly experienced nonprofit professionals completed the intensive three-day training and are now equipped to provide organizational assessments and expert assistance to nonprofits nationwide. The members of the 2024 class represent organizations from states across the country, including Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

    Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants use their extensive knowledge of the Standards for Excellence to help nonprofits strengthen their governance practices and build capacity, accountability, and sustainability in their organizations. Licensed Consultants provide nonprofits with organizational assessments, consulting, and training, and help them earn national Standards for Excellence accreditation.

    Some Licensed Consultants work with Standards for Excellence replication partners (which are organizations licensed and trained to use the Institute’s program materials and resources to support other nonprofits in a specific geographic area or in a specific mission area).

    The Licensed Consultant Program has continued to grow each year since its inception in 2006. See the complete list of current Licensed Consultants. Anyone interested in becoming a Licensed Consultant should consider joining the 2025 training – learn more and sign up to be notified when applications are available.

    Participant Testimonials:

    Laura Edwards, State Director of Maryland CASA, spoke about the training: “I spent three days in Baltimore with an amazing group of other executives, all working toward the same goal! Our cohort of 30 joined the hundreds of already licensed professionals, all of whom are dedicated to ensuring every organization has the ability to achieve greatness using best practices, Standards for Excellence Institute tools, programs, clinics and workshops! I am ready to partner with organizations to strengthen their governance, accountability, and operational excellence.”   

    Tiana Massaquoi, Co-founder and Co-Board Chair of the Keep Still Cares Foundation, describes the Licensed Consultant Training: “This has been one of the best learning experiences I’ve had, and I’m truly honored to be a part of such an incredible class of professionals, practitioners, and servants.”

    Henry W. Saxon, Managing Partner of Saxon Advisors LLC, states: This Standards for Excellence program is a vital framework that empowers nonprofit organizations to uphold high governance standards, transparency, and best practices. I am now positioned to offer tailored support to my nonprofit clients, helping them navigate the complexities of their missions while fostering a culture of integrity and excellence.

     

    Standards for Excellence® Licensed Consultant Class of 2024

     

     

    Introducing the Members of the Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of November 2024:       

    (*Participated as a member of a replication partner organization)

    Nico Amador
    Vermont

    Crystal Baze-Barney, CPA
    Gwynn Oak, MD

    Holly Beadle
    Springfield, MO

    Jennifer Broderick
    Columbia, MD

    Chelsea Brown
    Baltimore, MD

    LaTisha Carter
    Columbia, MD

    Madison Darling
    Marinette, WI

    Laura Edwards
    Westminster, MD

    Michael Feinstein
    Rockville, MD

    Tyryn Goodson-Seck*
    Baltimore, MD

    Lynda Hyatt
    Richmond, VA

    Natalie Jones*
    Memphis, TN

    Amanda Keeter*
    Round Rock, TX

    Dynell Kellyman
    Burlington, NJ

    Gloria Lawrence
    Baltimore, MD

    Danielle Marshall
    Nottingham, MD

    Tiana Massaquoi
    Frederick, MD

    Angela Meekins*
    Memphis, TN

    Jade Merritt
    Randallstown, MD

    Jamie Meyers, LMSW
    Baltimore, MD

    Farah Nageer-Kanthor
    Silver Spring, MD

    Lori Noonan
    West End, NC

    Gary Norman Esq. LLM  
    Baltimore, MD

    Chijioke Oranye
    Windsor Mill, MD

    Diana Phillips*
    Taylor, TX

    Victoria Prevatt
    Athens, GA

    Mindy Propst
    Hagerstown, MD

    Venus Ray
    Huntingtown, MD

    Henry Saxon
    Atlanta, GA

    Katie Speert
    Westminster, MD

    About the Standards for Excellence Institute®
    The Standards for Excellence Institute® is a Maryland Nonprofits program that serves nonprofits throughout the nation. The Institute is dedicated to promoting the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations. It has a dozen state, regional and national partner organizations, and is supported by 339 Licensed Consultants and 90 volunteers with professional experience in nonprofit governance and administration.

    Currently, there are nearly 160 individual nonprofit organizations that have completed a rigorous application and review process to demonstrate adherence to the Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. Learn more at www.standardsforexcellence.org.

  • Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of November 2023

    Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of November 2023

    For Immediate Release 

    Contact: Amy Coates Madsen
    Director, Standards for Excellence Institute®

    acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org
    443-438-2314  

    Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of November 2023

    Baltimore, MD – December 11, 2023 – The Standards for Excellence Institute, an initiative dedicated to promoting the highest standards of nonprofit ethics and accountability, announces its 2023 Class of Licensed Consultants. Twenty-six highly experienced nonprofit professionals completed the intensive, three-day training and are now equipped to provide organizational assessments, and expert assistance to nonprofits nationwide. The members of the class represent organizations from states across the country, including Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

    Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants use their extensive knowledge of the Standards for Excellence to help nonprofits strengthen their governance practices and build capacity, accountability, and sustainability in their organizations. Licensed Consultants provide nonprofits with organizational assessments, consulting, and training, and help them earn national Standards for Excellence accreditation.

    Some licensed consultants work with Standards for Excellence replication partners (which are organizations licensed and trained to use the Institute’s program materials and resources to support other nonprofits in a specific geographic area or in a specific mission area).

    The Licensed Consultant Program has continued to grow each year since its inception in 2006. See the complete list of current Licensed Consultants. Anyone interested in becoming a Licensed Consultant should consider joining the 2024 training – learn more and sign up to be notified when applications are available.

    Testimonials:

    Arianna Ross, of Poolesville, MD, spoke about the training: “I learned so much more than I could have imagined about the best practices for running and partnering with a nonprofit.  It is my hope that with this knowledge I can support not only my nonprofit, Story Tapestries, but also others in the community, allowing them to reach for the stars and become accredited. This course is a gift that will keep on giving over time.“

    April Mastroluca, of Henderson, NV, shared: “The Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant Training Program introduced me to new ways of looking at topics and issues I have been working with for over 20 years. The program also gave me the opportunity to hear perspectives and ideas from the other class participants, consultants, and nonprofit professionals from across the country. Now I can share this knowledge with nonprofit organizations in Nevada knowing that I am sharing proven best practices and resources to help organizations focus on achieving their mission.”

     

    Standards for Excellence® Licensed Consultant Class of 2023
     

    Introducing the Members of the Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of November 2023:       (*Participated as a member of a replication partner organization)

    Sonji Branch
    Bartlett, TN

    Miriam Dicks
    Greenville, SC

    *Alex Fizz
    Wilmington, DE

    Rikisha Goree
    Upper Marlboro, MD

    Glenda Hicks
    Conyers, GA

    *Dorian Hines
    Memphis, TN

    Mya Hodge
    Pikesville, MD

    Jeffrey Holmes
    Bowie, MD

    Tara Huffman
    Windsor Mill, MD

    Wendy Jeffries
    Baltimore, MD

    Lili Leonard
    Dickerson, MD

    April Mastroluca
    Henderson, NV

    Erin McDermott
    Challis, ID

    *Lauri Monetti
    Edmond, OK

    Janet Olajide
    Columbia, MD

    Kandi Pickard
    Fort Wayne, IN

    Christopher Pineda
    Parkville, MD

    Tinesar Priester
    Wilmington, DE

    *Justine Ramos
    Baltimore, MD

    Michelle Ray
    Wilmington, DE

    Arianna Ross
    Poolesville, MD

    Joan Webb Scornaienchi
    Columbia, MD

    Dominique Stiger
    Rosedale, MD

    Amanda Wagner
    Largo, MD

    Laura Whitaker
    Lexington, KY

    Corae Young
    Waldorf, MD

    About the Standards for Excellence Institute®
    The Standards for Excellence Institute® is an operating division of Maryland Nonprofits that serves nonprofits throughout the nation. The Institute is dedicated to promoting the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations. It has a dozen state, regional and national partner organizations, and is supported by 311 Licensed Consultants and 100 volunteers with professional experience in nonprofit governance and administration. Currently, there are nearly 200 individual nonprofit organizations that have completed a rigorous application and review process to demonstrate adherence to the Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. Learn more at www.standardsforexcellence.org.

     

     

  • Best Practices in Board Recruitment

    Best Practices in Board Recruitment 
    by Debra Thompson and Jacqui Catrabone, Strategy Solutions

    The time has come for you to recruit a new board member. You’re probably feeling stress, excitement, and overwhelm from the nagging question of “where do we even begin?”

    Worry no more! The Standards for Excellence:® An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector offers best practices for board recruitment so that you can effectively fill your open seat. Like many things, it all begins with some basic knowledge.

    Understand the concept of Strategic Board Diversity and its importance to the leadership of your organization.

    The Board Composition Standard states, “The board of directors shall be comprised of persons representing the diversity of the community that we serve, taking into account race, gender, economic status, age, and other factors.”

    You might be wondering who is responsible to ensure that your board composition reflects the diversity of the community. Many boards find out that no one is really responsible, which is why it’s recommended that every nonprofit have a Governance Committee.

    The Board Governance Committee will monitor board composition, encourage board development, assess board effectiveness, and more. Once this committee is in place, you’re ready for the next step in board recruitment.

    Identify the skill sets needed to support your organization’s strategic vision and direction.

    According to Hildy Gottleib, author of Board Recruitment and Orientation, every board should have 3 criteria for board member recruitment:

    • Must have
    • Would be nice
    • Never in a million years

    The more specific the criteria you set for what you want (and don’t want) in a board member, the more likely you are to find it. All nonprofits should develop an ideal model of board composition based on community demographics and the organizational needs in order to advance the strategic plan.

    You can be as broad or narrow as you want in the characteristics you believe to be important to board service. Here are 4 steps to achieve desired diversity:

    1. Be clear about the characteristics you’re looking for.
    2. Don’t be afraid to create the “ideal” profile combination, even if you think that person doesn’t exist.
    3. Write down the profile (committing it to writing makes it real).
    4. Create a board application form to gather the information that you’re looking for in a candidate.

    Now that you know what you want in a board member, it’s time to find them!

    Implement strategies to connect with new potential board candidates that will meet your needs.

    A critical success factor in creating a diverse board is looking beyond the people that your current board members know personally.

    Proactive Strategic Networking revolves around the idea that all people, on average, are six or fewer social connections away from each other. In most communities/regions, it’s more like two or three.

    So, how can you begin to network to recruit the people you want and need on your board?

    • Brainstorm a list of people / organizations to network with.
    • Prepare a recruitment packet (including organization background, history, goals, and ideal candidate profile) to share with non-board members.
    • Create member assignments for outreach.
    • Utilize social media and digital advertising to spread the word about your open seat.
    • Follow up with non-board members helping your recruitment efforts.

    Reach out for help if you feel the recruitment process could be made simpler and more effective.

    Sometimes knowing the best practices for board recruitment isn’t enough to fill your open seat, and that’s okay!

    With more than 20 years of experience, Strategy Solutions has worked with both nonprofit and for-profit sectors through organizational change and growth. Debra Thompson and Jacqui Catrabone are licensed consultants, trainers and peer reviewers for The Standards for Excellence:® An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants are independent consultants with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to work with nonprofit organizations across the country that are interested in implementing, and becoming accredited by, the Standards for Excellence Institute.

    Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. We look forward to seeing your board succeed!

    About Strategy Solutions Inc.

    For over 25 years, Strategy Solutions Inc. has been providing innovative solutions to ensure the sustainability of nonprofit, public, and private organizations, and to create healthier communities. Our approach is unique and incorporates the expertise of executive-level consulting professionals, rigorous analytical research capabilities, group process techniques, best practices, and proven planning tools, which consistently produce remarkable outcomes.

    About the Standards for Excellence Institute:

    The mission of the Standards for Excellence Institute is to promote the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations, and to facilitate adherence to those standards by all nonprofit organizations. For more information about joining the Standards for Excellence Institute or to learn more about the ways the Institute serves nonprofits, visit www.standardsforexcellence.org. 

  • Standards for Excellence® Institute partners with Social Venture Partners Dallas to assist nonprofits achieve the highest governance and management standards.

    Standards for Excellence® Institute partners with Social Venture Partners Dallas to assist nonprofits achieve the highest governance and management standards.

    Standards for Excellence® Institute partners with Social Venture Partners Dallas to assist nonprofits achieve the highest governance and management standards. 

    August 16, 2023

    Contact: Amy Coates Madsen, Director, Standards for Excellence Institute
    Phone: 443-438-2314   Email: acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org

    Baltimore, MD ̶  The Standards for Excellence® Institute, a nation-wide initiative dedicated to promoting the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations, today announces a partnership with Social Venture Partners (SVP) Dallas, part of a global network of philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers dedicated to building their communities. The program will be offered by SVP Dallas’ Nonprofit Impact Institute. As a Standards for Excellence® replication partner, SVP Dallas will bring the full complement of Standards for Excellence® educational resources, expertise, and programming to the nonprofit organizations served by the organization’s 200+ Social Venture Partners (members).

    Heather Iliff, President & CEO of the Standards for Excellence Institute, states: “We are excited to partner with SVP Dallas in their work to strengthen nonprofits in North Texas in order to create the greatest possible impact.”

    North Texas nonprofits affiliated with SVP Dallas of all sizes can benefit from the content-rich training, assessment tools, resource materials, and technical assistance provided by the new SVP Dallas Standards for Excellence® program. The Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector is the centerpiece of the program. It focuses on principles of honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility, and accountability in nonprofit program operations, governance, human resources, financial management, and fundraising.

    “SVP Dallas Partners bring together a wide range of professional expertise across industries and a passion for addressing the root causes of social injustice in North Texas. Partnering with the Standards for Excellence allows SVP Dallas to continue to support our expert Partners in honing the skills and knowledge they bring to the table in building the capacity of social impact organizations in our community.” Tony Fleo, CEO of SVP Dallas

    Area nonprofits can also benefit from working with the 28 professionals who became Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants by completing an intensive, three-day training seminar held in Dallas from June 6 to June 8, 2023. These Licensed Consultants, working in concert with teams of SVP Dallas Partners, will use their extensive expertise and this new resource to provide SVP Dallas portfolio organizations with additional training, organizational assessments, and assistance with becoming formally accredited through the Standards for Excellence Recognition and Accreditation programs.

    Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants for the Nonprofit Impact Institute remarked:

    “The Standards for Excellence licensed consulting program has developed an accessible and professional benchmark for all nonprofit organizations to follow. I am thrilled to put the standards into practice to enhance the capacity and impact of nonprofits in my community.”   Christine Vu

    “I have spent considerable time on frameworks for driving change. These include the Baldridge Quality award, SOX, COSO, ISO9000 and others. The Standards for Excellence training provided insight for application in not-for-profits in a way that is uniquely suited for that purpose. I am very much looking forward to using the expertise codified and available through the program.”  George Ellis

    SVP Dallas has begun to incorporate Standards for Excellence® resources into their Social Impact Advising program during this cycle and will be rolling out further resources over the coming months through the Nonprofit Impact Institute. Nonprofits and professionals in North Texas (including Dallas, Collin, Denton, Tarrant, Ellis, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, and Wise counties) that are interested in learning more about advising or becoming a Partner should go to svpdallas.org or contact SVP Dallas at 214-855-5520 or dogoodbetter@svpdallas.org. For more information on the Standards for Excellence Institute®, contact Amy Coates Madsen, Director at 443-438-2314 or acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org.

    About the Standards for Excellence Institute®
    The Standards for Excellence Institute® is an operating division of Maryland Nonprofits that serves nonprofits throughout the nation. The Institute is dedicated to promoting the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations. It has a dozen state, regional and national partner organizations, and is supported by 266 Licensed Consultants and 100 volunteers with professional experience in nonprofit governance and administration. Since its inception, more than 200 individual nonprofit organizations have completed a rigorous application and review process to demonstrate adherence to the Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector. Learn more at www.standardsforexcellence.org.

    About SVP Dallas

    Social Venture Partners is a global network of local Partners aligning passion and purpose helping to build communities able to solve our most entrenched problems. Their focus of helping individuals realize greater impact with their giving, strengthening social impact organizations, and investing in collaborative solutions helps make connections that make a difference and unleash potential. To learn more, visit svpdallas.org.

     

     

     

    Introducing the Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of June 2023:   
     

    Amit Banerjee
    Frisco, Texas

    Wendy Bateman
    Dallas, Texas

    Nadine Dechausay
    Dallas, Texas

    Gwen Echols
    Dallas, Texas

    George Ellis
    Dallas, Texas

    Christina Hanger
    Dallas, Texas

    Nicholas Hawkins
    Grand Prairie Texas

    Ted Thomas Herrod
    Dallas, Texas

    Susan Horning
    Northlake, Texas

    Mary M. Jalonick
    Dallas, Texas

    Danielle King
    Dallas, Texas

    Anthony Llano
    Frisco, Texas

    Suzanne Massey
    Dallas, Texas

    Heather McClure
    Dallas, Texas

    Alicia McGlinchey
    Dallas, Texas

    Karem Montemayor
    Dallas, Texas

    Jennifer Owen
    Dallas, Texas

    Elizabeth Price
    Mansfield, Texas

    Darby Teal Ross
    Dallas, Texas

    Aabid Shivji
    Grapevine, Texas

    Jordan Smith
    Dallas, Texas

    Christian Smith
    Carrollton, Texas

    Christine Vu
    Carrollton, Texas

    Grace McClure Topete
    Richardson, Texas

    Evy Kay Washburne
    Dallas, Texas

    Harden H. Wiedemann
    Dallas, Texas

    Christopher Young
    Dallas, Texas

    Donna Young
    Dallas, Texas 

  • Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of June 2023

    Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of June 2023 

    Baltimore, MD – July 27, 2023 The Standards for Excellence Institute, an initiative dedicated to promoting the highest standards of nonprofit ethics and accountability, announces the June 2023 class of Licensed Consultants. Through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, the Institute held an exclusive, comprehensive training, graduating five new licensed professionals equipped to support nonprofits nationwide.

    As Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants, these individuals have the expertise and ability to guide organizations in governance and management best practices. They also have knowledge of organizational assessments, and can provide consulting, training, and assistance in the application process for national Standards for Excellence accreditation.

    The new class of Licensed Consultants includes:

    Diane Mallery
    Philadelphia, PA

    Shannon Mason
    Trenton, NJ

    R Perry Monastero
    Philadelphia, PA

    Linda Rentschler
    Hamburg, PA

    Dayna Sear
    New Castle, PA

    Licensed Consultant Diane Mallery of Dunleavy & Associates shared her thoughts: “I found the Standards for Excellence Institute training to be extremely valuable; kudos to the knowledgeable training leaders. It gave me a wonderful tool kit of resources to bring to my consulting work, and it was great to network with the other professionals participating in the training.”

    Heather Giampapa, Director of Standards for Excellence and Development, Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations offered, “We are grateful for the dedication and commitment shown by these Standards for Excellence Pennsylvania Licensed Consultants. We are delighted that they can now expand their services in other states, supporting even more nonprofits in their use of the Standards for Excellence to strengthen their operations and governance.”

    The Licensed Consultant program has grown each year since its inception in 2006. A searchable directory of consultants can be found on the Standards for Excellence Institute website.

    Those interested can learn more about becoming a Licensed Consultant and sign up to be notified when applications for the 2024 Class of Licensed Consultants are available.

    The Standards for Excellence Institute, an operating division of Maryland Nonprofits, uses the Standards for Excellence program as its vehicle for effective change. The Standards for Excellence program works to help nonprofit organizations act ethically and accountably in their management and governance, while enhancing the public’s trust in the nonprofit sector.

    Contact: Amy Coates Madsen
    Director Standards for Excellence Institute
    acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org

  • Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of November 2021

    Introducing: Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultants Class of November 2021

    Baltimore, MD – December 16, 2021; The Standards for Excellence Institute, an initiative designed to help nonprofit organizations operate more ethically and accountably, announces its 2021 Class of Licensed Consultants.

    Thirty-two class members hailing from various regions of the country completed the intensive, five-day virtual training seminar and can now assist nonprofits nationwide. They bring over 530 collective years of nonprofit experience to the table and represent organizations from Illinois to Maryland to Texas – and many places in between.

    Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants use their extensive knowledge of the multi-faceted initiative to help nonprofits strengthen their governance practices and exceed the rising demand for nonprofit accountability. They provide nonprofit organizations with organizational assessments, consulting, training, and assistance in the application process for national Standards for Excellence accreditation. Many licensed consultants will also work with licensed replication partners.

    Cara Fogarty, of the Nonprofit Institute at the College of Southern Maryland, shared her thoughts on the program:

    “It was truly an honor to be a part of the Standards for Excellence Fall 2021 Licensed Consultant Training Class. I learned so much and filled in knowledge gaps. The speakers and my classmates were inspiring and the topics we covered were robust and varied.

    I’m excited to bring my enhanced knowledge to nonprofits in Southern Maryland — they are the immediate beneficiaries of this training — and to students in our prospective nonprofit workforce development program.”

    Thomas Brush, of Advancement Designs, reflected on the best parts of his experience:

    “I was really impressed with the Standards for Excellence program and the opportunity to learn more about it during training and certification last week. As someone who has been in the nonprofit industry for almost 30 years, it is great to add the Standards to my tool kit of resources to help nonprofit organizations.

    We were able to learn with and get connected to a new network of nonprofit leaders in the class who brought unique knowledge, experience, and perspective to the group. The presenters for each standard were excellent and very knowledgeable. It is great that we will be able to join that network and connect with such leaders.

    The week went by amazingly quickly thanks to a well-outlined program, interesting topics and presenters, unique ways to engage and connect our cohort, and excellent facilitators. I would highly recommend this program to up-and-coming nonprofit leaders as well as to more experienced leaders and consultants. It provides a baseline for all nonprofits to try and achieve which will only help the organizations grow and serve their community more effectively.”

    When asked to reflect on her experience during the training, Tharesa Lee, of Intentional Excellence Consulting offered, “Nothing can compare to the spirit of excellence among professionals, gleaning affirming and contributing to each other.”

    Kate Schulze of Ethics Alliance Maryland, LLC, stated:

    “One of the most comprehensive and practical training courses I’ve attended in my professional career. The tools provided are invaluable and I was pleased to be part of such a talented cohort of applicant/professionals. Their diversity of experience and willingness to teach and share knowledge was very much appreciated. A very enriching and rewarding experience.”

    Introducing the Members of the Standards for Excellence Institute® Licensed Consultant Class of 2021:

    Hamza Abdalla
    Carnegie, PA    		 Amy Davis
    Hollywood, MD    		 Nitai Joseph
    Ellicott City, MD    		 Andre Myers
    Laurel, MD    		 Kate Schulze
    Elkridge, MD

    Paris Webster
    Baltimore, MD
    Kesha-Abdul-Mateen
    Odenton, MD    		 Cara Fogarty
    La Plata, MD    		 Alicia Joynes
    Baltimore, MD    		 Andrew Newsom
    Dallas, TX    		 Jennifer Severson
    Lanham, MD

    *Conner Wolfe
    Hollywood, MD
    Saja Awad
    Wylie, TX    		 Joanne Gannon
    Wye Mills, MD    		 *Kevin Carlin Kennedy
    Greenbelt, MD    		 *Patty Prasada-Rao
    Baltimore, MD    		 *Kimberly Smolik
    Washington, DC
    *Liz Bowman
    Oklahoma City, OK    		 Andrea Hill
    Memphis, TN    		 Tharesa Lee
    New Bern, NC    		 Ukela Proctor
    Waldorf, MD    		 Naaemah Staggs
    Glen Burnie, MD
    Thomas Brush
    Parkton, MD    		 Kaprece James
    Hughesville, MD    		 Kathleen Dick Leslie, Esq.
    Baltimore, MD    		 Asia Rodgers
    Fort Worth, TX    		 Michelle Sullivan
    Accokeek, MD
    Christine Dagostino
    Canton, GA    		 Terry Jenkins
    Quincy, IL    		 *Lisa Metcalfe
    Washington, DC    		 Annie Schmitz
    Memphis, TN    		 Tiffany Turner-Allen
    Bowie, MD

     

    *Participated as a member of a licensed replication partner organization.

    The Licensed Consultant Program has grown each year since its inception in 2006. A searchable directory of consultants can be found on the Institute’s website.

    The Institute, an operating division of Maryland Nonprofits, uses the Standards for Excellence program as its vehicle for effective change. The Standards for Excellence program works to help nonprofit organizations act ethically and accountably in their management and governance, while enhancing the public’s trust in the nonprofit sector.

    Those interested in becoming a licensed consultant have the opportunity to join the 2022 Class can find information and sign up to be notified when applications are available here!

  • ANNOUNCEMENT: Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant Training 2020 – Now Offered Virtually, Deadline Extended

    The Standards for Excellence Institute Announces that the 2020 Licensed Consultant Training Program will Take Place in a Virtual Setting Over Five Days, Deadline Extended to July 15, 2020

    The Standards for Excellence Institute continues to actively monitor the incidence of COVID-19 in our region and across the nation. As we reviewed and evaluated the current situation, it has become increasing clear that offering the Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant program virtually is the best decision  at this time to safeguard the health and safety of all involved in this program.  This will be the first time ever offering of the Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant program in an online setting and it will be expanded from a three-day in-person program to a five-day virtual experience, November 16-20, 2020.

    Adding two days to the program will allow the Standards for Excellence Institute to offer the program in a way that is highly interactive and engaging, with shorter program days. 

    We understand that for many, the opportunity to participate in the program online will be welcome news. Others may wish to wait to participate in a traditional in-person offering (next in person offering of the Licensed Consultant program has been planned for Fall 2021).

    In order to provide applicants to the Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant Class of 2020 additional time to consider participation in this new format lasting over five days, we are extending our deadline for applicants until July 15, 2020.

    If you have already submitted an application for the Licensed Consultant Class of 2020 and have questions or wish to withdraw your application for the virtual program, please notify the Standards for Excellence Institute of this decision by emailing Rachel Mygatt at rmygatt@standardsforexcellence.org.  For those who have submitted applications prior to July 7, 2020, we will assume that you wish to participate in the virtual offering unless you reach out to us by July 15, 2020.

    This new format will allow the Standards for Excellence Institute to offer a special reduction in fees for the 2020 program. The fee to participate in the Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant program will be $1250.  Members of the Standards for Excellence Institute, Maryland Nonprofits, and partners will be granted a $150 discount off the regular fee for the 2020 for a total of $1100. 

             

    Fees for the program include, the five-day virtual training program for individuals accepted to the program, AND ALSO the following additional program benefits:

    • Two-year license to provide Standards for Excellence consultation to organizations interested in incorporating the Standards for Excellence and/or applying for accreditation.
    • Access to custom training tools for all Standards for Excellence signature programs including PowerPoint slides, curricula notes, and resource handouts.
    • Listing on the Standards for Excellence Institute’s website, promoting your status as a National Licensed Consultant in all facets of Standards for Excellence code.
    • All the benefits of membership in the Standards for Excellence Institute for a period of two years.
    • Three full sets of the Standards for Excellence Educational Resource Packets, and 20 Standards for Excellence codebooks to utilize in your practice.

     

    The application for scholarships for this program remains the same, August 7, 2020 and the link can be found here. Three scholarships covering 50% of the fees will be awarded for this year’s program.

    Please contact Amy Coates Madsen, Director of the Standards for Excellence Institute, at acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org, or Rachel Mygatt, Program Manager, at rmygatt@standardsforexcellence.org, with any questions.

  • Top Takeaways from Licensed Consulting Training

    Top Takeaways from Licensed Consulting Training

    The Fall 2018 Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant Training was generously sponsored by COGENCY GLOBAL. Ron J. Barrett, COGENCY GLOBAL’s Vice President of Nonprofit Services, participated in the three-day training on nonprofit governance, management, and operations. Ron is a member of the newest class of Licensed Consultants. He recently reflected on his experience, his advice for people considering applying to become a Licensed Consultant, and why COGENCY GLOBAL decided to support the 2018 training. Read Ron Barret’s article here.

    The Licensed Consultant Training is an exclusive professional development initiative available annually to a limited number of qualified applicants. To participate in this three-day licensing seminar you must successfully complete an application and screening process, including a review of professional experience conducted by Standards for Excellence Institute staff, and be accepted to the program. Learn more here.

  • 2019 Class of Licensed Consultants Advance Standards for Excellence® Mission

    Contact: Amy Coates Madsen 
    Director, Standards for Excellence Institute®
    443.438.2314, acmadsen@standardsforexcellence.org  

    Baltimore, MD – April 8, 2019

    The Standards for Excellence Institute, an initiative designed to help nonprofit organizations operate more ethically and accountably, announces its first set of Licensed Consultants for the 2019 class. These class members recently completed an intensive, multi-day training initiative. Their training culminated in Harrisburg this March with Standards for Excellence Institute facilitated interactive sessions. Class members are now licensed in every aspect of the Standards for Excellence program and can assist nonprofits nationwide. Those interested in becoming a licensed consultant have the opportunity to join the 2019 class through the November training program. Learn More Here!

    Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants use their new, extensive knowledge of the multi-faceted initiative to help nonprofits strengthen their governance practices and exceed the rising demand for nonprofit accountability. They provide nonprofit organizations with organizational assessments, consulting, training, and assistance in the application process for national Standards for Excellence accreditation.

    The 2019 class consists of professionals with over 30 years of experience. Represented organizations include Charitable Advisory Services, Domestic Violence Center of Chester County, Strategy Solutions, Inc., Spigel Consulting, and Allegheny County Library Association. 

    Licensed Consultant Rosalind Spigel said she chose to go through the training program to “give more resources to my clients.” Spigel added, “there was a lot of wisdom in the room, and the facilitators used that to build a community in the training itself.” 

    Heather Iliff, President of the Standards for Excellence Institute, remarks that “It is a pleasure to welcome this richly talented and diverse group as our newest Licensed Consultants. I have no doubt that their expertise will benefit organizations across the nation that are working hard to meet best practices in nonprofit management and governance.” 

    The Licensed Consultant Program has grown each year since its inception in 2006. A searchable directory of consultants can be found on the Institute’s website.

    Here are the most recent Licensed Consultants:

    Barbara Ernico, Hilton Head Island, SC

     Dolly Wideman-Scott, West Chester, PA

    Jay Breneman, Erie, PA

    Rosalind Spigel, Bryn Mawr, PA

    Jacqui Catrabone, Erie, PA

    Marilyn Jenkins, Pittsburgh, PA

    Karen Kispert, Souderton, PA

    		  

    For information on the Licensed Consultant program, visit standardsforexcellence.org/become-a-licensed-consultant.

    The Institute, a program of Maryland Nonprofits, uses the Standards for Excellence program as its vehicle for effective change. The Standards for Excellence program works to help nonprofit organizations act ethically and accountably in their management and governance, while enhancing the public’s trust in the nonprofit sector.  To learn more, visit www.standardsforexcellence.org.

  • The One Thing Strategic Plans Forget

    The One Thing Strategic Plans Forget

    Ahh, the glorious feeling of looking at the month after next on your calendar and seeing whole empty days. How easy it is to be magnanimous and say “yes” when asked to take on a job that isn’t due for two months. So we say “yes,” and put it on the calendar. When another someone asks us to do something in the future, we again check our calendar, see that it’s still pretty empty, and again say “yes.” This happens a few more times, and all of a sudden, the 1st week in December starts looking pretty full.

    Then as December 1 approaches, all the things we want to accomplish – long-term projects, researching new programs, reading for professional development – have to get squeezed into the unscheduled times, alongside putting out the inevitable fires that weren’t anticipated, calling our parents, and taking our kid to the doctor.

    If we’d scheduled the projects, research, and professional development, then that week wouldn’t have looked so free. We might have more carefully evaluated the request, and said ‘no’ to some of them, in order to have time to accomplish our own long-term goals.

    Almost everyone experiences this phenomenon. Dan Ariely, the behavioral economist who wrote Predictably Irrational, said:

    “Because of the ways calendars are created, people actually take more meetings than they should…  We have this satisfaction of having our calendar seem busy. We have the satisfaction of not saying ‘no’ to things. But at the same time, we’re chasing away things that are important to us for things that are unimportant.”

    When you add together the many individuals on a board or in a department, the problem gets compounded. We all know whole departments and companies that fill their time with tasks and meetings, leaving all the workers wondering if they’ve actually accomplished anything.  Similarly, nonprofit boards of directors are often left wondering why their strategic plans are never accomplished.

    A strategic plan without concrete, timed, scheduled milestones is a wish list.

    Several organizations I’ve worked with want to build a stronger board. The sequence goes like this:

    • In 2014, they stated that by the year 2017 we’ll have a stronger, more diverse board, representative of the community.
    • In 2016, they determine that by 2019 we’ll have a stronger board, representative of the community.
    • In 2018, are they going to say that by 2021 we’ll have a stronger, more diverse board, representative of the community?

    Probably. Unless they schedule the time to think through what it will take to make that shift. Then schedule the time to execute each step on that newly planned path.

    We all have the best intentions in the world to accomplish our strategic plans. Yet without putting them on the calendar, those planned goals are going to get squeezed out by the so-easily scheduled meetings, the inevitable fires, and the daily tasks that we take for granted and therefore forget that they take time.

    Tom Peters, author of In Search of Excellence and A Passion for Excellence is famous for the dictum, “What’s measured gets done.”   Back in business school, I learned this phrase as a component of Managing by Objective, which requires that these critical questions be answered:

    • What are you planning to do?
    • Who will be in charge?
    • By when will it be accomplished?

    The problem is that MBO leaves out the step of scheduling the time to actually work on it. There is still room for procrastination. Even if the objective is accomplished, nothing keeps it from being done at the last minute or squeezed into inconvenient half-hour chunks of time around scheduled meetings. The result is frenetic or burned-out workers and volunteers.

    After a recent strategic planning session, a participant approached me and said that it was one of the most intense sessions she’d ever experienced. She really felt that they had the path forward. She said the biggest difference was that they actually set completion dates for every activity, and scheduled when they would work on it.

    On the two hour drive home, I remembered Ariely’s column about personal planning. In an aha moment, I realized that while setting milestones may get activities accomplished, it’s:

    • Acknowledging that those milestones exist,
    • Keeping them in front us, and
    • Scheduling the time to accomplish them,

    that makes the plan realistic.

    Scheduling the time in which to accomplish the milestones forces you to acknowledge that accomplishing these goals will take time. It makes it a lot easier to say ‘no’ to a request that will divert your time away from the agreed-upon goal.

    What gets measured gets done. True. What gets scheduled gets done more sanely.

    If we don’t plan our own future with the things that matter to us, then we relinquish our future to the obligations of others.